By Rawle Toney

THE North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) president Mike Sands and General Secretary Keith Joseph wrapped up their two-day visit to Guyana, host of the 2021 CARIFTA Games, and made some vital recommendations to the Local Organising Committee (LOC), ahead of the 50th edition of the championship.

The NACAC is the continental confederation governing body of athletics for national governing bodies and multi-national federations within North America, Central America and the Caribbean and is one of six area associations of the World Athletics before International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Guyana is a founding-member of CARIFTA, and in 1972, the games were initiated to mark the Caribbean Athletic Association’s transition to CARICOM, as Joseph told reporters that, given the historic relevance of Land of Many Waters to the games, it is important that they host an all-most perfect event.

Joseph said over 1500 athletes and officials are expected to grace these shores during the Easter holiday period next year and based on his visit to several of the country’s top hotels, he’s certain that everyone will be properly accommodated and will be satisfied with the hotels’ standards.

In 2015, just before the General and Regional Elections, the PPP/C Administration opened the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, boasting that the over $1.4B state-of-the-art facility can host any international track and field event under the International Olympic Committee umbrella.

However, the NACAC general secretary stated that apart from remedial work needed on the track itself, the placement of the long jump pitch and the position of the warm-up track are among some of the areas that will need to be addressed and corrected in time for the games.

Joseph pointed out that, just like the rest of the region, adequate seating arrangements are in place for the athletes, but suggested that temporary provisions should be made to accommodate more spectators, given the fact that school will be closed.

A team from the NACAC will return shortly to make another assessment. The Government of Guyana also came in for some praises for supporting AAG’s bid to host the games.

The 2017 CARIFTA Games will go down as one of the country’s most memorable outings, given the fact that they were able to bag eight medals – four gold, three bronze and one silver.

It was at the 46th edition of the games, hosted in Curacao, where Linden’s Compton Caesar created history, by winning Guyana’s first-ever gold medal in the 100m at the event.